Here’s a reason that might not be popular but I feel like it applies to me. I grew up in a family of hunters. At a young age I was in the woods hunting deer, but quickly realized I didn’t like hunting, I just hated killing an animal, but also I had this primal desire to be in the woods and tracking animals. It was odd to want to track down wildlife but not like to hunt. I feel like wildlife photography fulfills that primal urge to “hunt” but without having to kill anything. My photograph is the “kill shot”. It’s what keeps me out there but also preserving those memories in photos.
I had the same experience growing up hunting from a young age. The older I got the less I liked the idea of killing animals. However, I always loved being in the woods and experiencing nature. I still really enjoy sitting out in wilderness for hours on end. Its just that now I do it with a camera.
I was born into a professional pest control hunting family in New Zealand. At the age of 14 my father pulled me out of school and into the wilderness of the mountains to start my hunting career. That was in 1973. Hunting was not something I did, it was and still is, who I am. That's very hard to understand unless you have been completely enveloped by something. Around 2007 I started to get interested in photography and in 2014 I put down my rifle and I have not popped a primer since then I have done my bit to protect our New Zealand wilderness and the birds that live there from the evasive deer, tahr and chamois which were introduced to New Zealand by well meaning but ignorant immigrants in the late 1800s. I no longer wanted to kill anything any more. Everything I have learned from my career eradicating deer I have been able to apply to my wildlife photography. Now I live in Northern Ireland and totally surrounded by people.To be alone in nature meant no other human beings for 20 miles for months at a time. So I can't say its isolation in nature that attracts me to photography. I guess for me it was the challenge. Basically with a rifle if you can see the animal you can shoot it. This is not the case with a camera lol. I get the same thrill from photography as I did with hunting but I don't have to kill anything. Thank you for sharing your story.
I also grew up hunting in the swamps of Northern Michigan but decided long ago that I would prefer to photograph an animal than harvest it. I am also a pragmatist. I don't like trophy hunters but people that hunt and eat what they kill is fine with me. I now live in coastal North Carolina and many of the places that I have to interact with wildlife is because of game lands and hunting preserves that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the support of hunters. If they want to go in and hunt these lands for a couple months a year but I have access year around, it is a fair arrangement for me. I have also met many hunters who appreciate wildlife beyond what they hunt and most are very friendly and share the love of the outdoors.
My motivation is the end result- the photograph / image. Everything else is the source and channel to create a content that creates a thought, a smile or a moment of appreciation.
What a great topic. To start off, I was mostly intrigued and curious. I have always loved wildlife since I was a little kid watching Animal documentaries, in the 80s and 90s, and visiting the San Diego zoo SeaWorld in the wild animal park every other weekend. For the last five years or so, I would hate to admit it has been driven by trying to create content, which I was trying to do to generate some sort of income. I stopped posting for about six months. not until then did I realize how much the content was the driving force. I would say right now the photograph or end product is probably the driving force. I want to get better. There will always be a love for wildlife and nature that’s not the foundation of it all. He took away the photograph and everything else, I’d still want to go for drives to see the animals. This video really made me think. nice one Scott .
This is a great opportunity to reflect. I definitely weigh connection to nature and “the photograph” a lot. I have already been hiking to connect with nature but photography adds a challenge for me to capture the majesty of my experiences and keep it as a (shareable) memory.
10:3910:39 All of the factors you mention are factors, but there is another important one for me. I have been involved in conservation issues for over 60 years starting with using photographs as a way to persuade people to support statutory protection for wilderness areas. While I still do landscape photography, I have been focusing on bird photography in recent years and I do this in connection with one of the great citizen science projects in the world, eBird. Rather than posting photos to Instagram, I post bird photos with the eBird checklists that I submit. The data that thousands of birders around the world post to eBird is used by wildlife scientists to help monitor bird populations and try to reverse the loss of 30% of wild birds over the past 50 years. That is what gets me out day after day.
I like the challenge of capturing a sharp action bird photo, with nice light and background. I also enjoy using my camera equipment, then processing the final image. Then entering my favourite photos in competitions and sometimes sharing interesting photos on social media
I think for me, it's really the connection to nature and fun that top the list. Thinking about the social aspect, I don't feel that it's really a motivation for me, but more of an after affect. I don't go out to shoot just to share on social media (or otherwise), but I definitely enjoy sharing when I've gotten something that I like. I find that I post on social media a lot less if I don't have anything new to share, but it's not my primary driver. I don't go out and say, "I need something for Instagram." Instead I go out and when I come back I'll say, "I should post that."
For me it is the search for new and different species as well as trying to get that once in a lifetime shot that we all crave. I do enjoy being out in nature alone with my thoughts though. It is very similar to how I shoot my sons' hockey games. The majority of the shots are extremely similar but every once in a while there is that one that just blows you away.
I'd say my primary reason for continuing is for the self-esteem boost. Maybe that can be filed away under ego, but I've struggled all my life with not feeling valued or competent. When I first started, I loved just being out in nature, as I grew up with mainly indoor hobbies in a city without much biodiversity in the immediate area. But now that I'm taking some halfway decent photos, I'm hooked on finally having a sort of niche that's recognized by people I know (real life friends, family, online).
For me it's creativity. We are creating images that have never before existed, and will never be exactly duplicated. I am also creating a huge bank of images which I will be able to look back on with fond memories when I am older.
I systematically got into birding about 20 years ago and bought a camera instead of binoculars because I could share a picture to help with identification. My peers have inspired me to be a better photographer and I am honored to have a few pics published. But when I give "bird talks" the way that I describe what I do to the average lay person is, "I hunt birds (wildlife) with a camera. My pictures are my trophy room."
1 and 2 for me. Living in DC it's rare to find a quiet slice of nature (luckily I have found a few spaces) so when I can connect with nature uninterrupted by other humans I find that feeling feeds directly into the 2nd item on your list. Whenever I get a chance alone in nature it reminds me that my daily life activities like work, commuting, grocery shopping, and so on are just the human experiences. When I spend time in nature (1&2) it grounds me and reminds me that those human activities i listed above are just constraints we put on ourselves and that we should be trying to reconnect with nature after sitting in offices all day. Great video and looking forward to what others have to say!
I gotta say, the final image is probably tops for me, followed by isolation and fun. Im obsessed with just going out and getting a great image, but to me that's also part of the fun. So, that's easily the driving force for me. The other reasons all are pretty close in level of importance though and none of them lag far behind.
I have lived or been to Big cities, Rural and Nature and being fully honest I always felt/feel most "Alive" when I am in nature(doesn't have to be a remote national park strictly even backyard marshes/groves do for me) so yeah that's my primary motive for Wildlife Photography-It makes me feel Alive💚
Very cool video! Nice change from all the "how to" and "product" videos on RUclips. As for me, I've been shooting for over 50 years doing all types of photography. It's always been about the image, stopping a period of time forever. Even if it's 1/2000 of a second, I captured that moment and it will never change. For decades I shot for others, trying to please their eye. I'm older and really don't care if someone likes my images or not. Now I shoot for myself and found that my work has gotten much better. I still enjoy sharing my images online and appreciate feedback from others. I like the social interaction you mentioned, I never thought about how much I enjoy meeting up with other photographers talking our trade or the subjects we shoot. Thank you for making us stop, take a breath and reflect on our passion. Good Job!
I was a pro photographer in the 80’s, then things went digital. I like (need) simple things that I can understand, digital introduced complexity, so I gave it up. I was pulled back into it by something I saw while out on an early morning bike ride. My world is so different from others around me that I need to find a way to share some of it.
OMG, I am not alone having a mind that feels like being in a class with squirrels outside taking away my attention toward something else! Even in a discussion with someone, my mind is always disturbed… For me, the photograph/image is the number one motivation! Being by myself and the connection with nature is close by! Even if the photograph is number one, I do it mainly for me since I don’t publish much! The challenge of taking a great shot is definitely also a big component of going out for me! Another great video!. 👍
Much like a few others indicated, I come from a hunting background, so #1 would be my main motivator for evolving into a photographer. For me, it's nice to get some good images, especially ones that others (who can't get out) appreciate. Which takes us to Social Media. It allows us to share with others that don't have the means to be out there. Now back to #1, here's a question. How often has anyone come home, and without looking at your images, gone.........damn, what a day !!! That interaction with the moose for 1 1/2 hours, 45 minutes with that black bear, or 2 hours in the middle of an elk herd....at rut time, and none of them knew or didn't care you were there ! That for me, is what it's all about, and why I spent time in the wilderness with a camera. AND......I can't lie, getting that elusive award winning photo. Wouldn't that be great !!!!
My motivation is a tie between connection to nature and being out in forest and field all by myself. Each one of your other reasons adds to the pleasure of photography, but come nowhere close to my primary reasons.
I can’t separate connection to nature, isolation/being present, learning/curiosity, making an image, and fun. I depend on a connection with nature and being present (letting go of my ego) to make the images I want. The causal arrow goes the other way as well: holding my camera inspires me to sit still, be present, and become aware of the details of a place (including the light) which allow me to capture the images I want. Learning and curiosity are also part of the bundle because I typically watch my subjects for a while to learn their behavioral patterns before I shoot (those two also inspire me to search for new locations to shoot). The momentary joy I feel when these things come together make me go back out. I enjoy the social aspect of photography but it's a close second. I’ve shot for decades without sharing the experience or my images with anyone else.
Learning you can be creative and others appreciate the work you do. Being out there everyday in the forest or lakes is so therapeutic to forget about the world and its problems. All six in various degrees makes it an exciting hobby.
I shoot wildlife because of the beauty they represent. The animals are the best of nature and my motivation is to capture the best I can to share with those interested in wildlife photography! It's fun. It brings me great joy. It's exciting especially when the animal, large or small, is near and fills the frame and I get the shots. Coming away with keepers is my mojo for wildlife photography. I've only been shooting for 5 or so years, and I will probably change as I get more experience with the art, but for now, this is the why for me!
I can say all 6, but #1 is connecting to nature. Nature is in my dna, so much I got a degree in fisheries & wildlife management. I need to be in nature and photography is how I share my love of nature.
I have come to this video a little late, so I suspect no one will read this and respond, but it's a good video and a good opportunity to reflect. Personally, for me connecting with nature and mental health is the same. I started wildlife photography because I was spending a lot of time in nature to connect with nature for mental health. Then one day I started bringing a camera. The rest is history. I have only been doing this for three years, so learning about the process of photography is still a thing for me. However, more so, it is learning about the animals I encounter, seeing their behaviour, understand the patterns and as well use that to get better photographs. Ego? Yes, absolutely. When posting on social media it is nice and validating to get a positive response. On the social side I have found the wildlife photography community to be friendly, welcoming and happy to share experiences and knowledge. As a former university academic I also enjoy sharing my knowledge with the general public and will always answer questions from passerbys about what I am (trying) to photograph. On the final product, I do worry if that becomes the main motivator. Obviously getting a great shot is a big motivation, but I do worry that for some getting the ‘best’ shot can lead to unethical practices that harm the wildlife we are photographing. Like wildlife paparazzi. Fun. If you are not having fun, stop!
I had to stop watching before I got too far into the video to figure out my motivation for photography. First it’s meditative, it helps me shut my thoughts off and just focus on the subject. My mind is constantly going. I enjoy the isolation of photography. I find peace just being alone with the subjects, and lastly, the ability to be creative. Love your ideas and look forward to seeing what motivates you Scott. Cheers
1. I haven’t taken my best image yet! I have photos I’m proud of but always strive to improve even after 15yrs 2. Time out with best friends and alone time when no one can join me. 3. It’s an addiction / my drug 4. Something new for my walls. Why buy art create it yourself. 5.relief of stress.
It depends on the "trip." Today I went with a friend to look for Paradise Kingfishers. So, a bit social, link with nature, and scout the locale. But when I go out on a specific mission, paying attention to time of day, location, tides, target bird. It's all about capturing the best image possible. For me that is why I spent the $$ on the gear, got up early to be there predawn, set my ass in the mud, edited the final images. Being out in nature is a great 2nd benefit! I also shot for a local birding group, and post to their FB site. "record the journey" for them so they can add it to the weekly newsletter. It's social and almost journalistic. I also love your Socratic approach to wildlife photography.
It’s a tie between the connection to nature & isolation for me. I do not enjoy photographing amongst large crowds of people. I very much enjoy being alone and soaking in all the natural world has to offer. I will say though, and I didn’t know this until recently when my d850 + 500mm prime broke and now I’m shooting with an older camera not meant for wildlife and a 200 mm only. The final image is a big factor. I love creating something pretty and challenging myself. Photography has not been quite as enjoyable without my d850. I love my 200mm but it’s not the same with my current camera and the final image isn’t nearly as nice.
5 - 50% 1 and 2 - 25% each Which I think (for me) prioritizing 5 so high is what’s giving me a lot of self doubt lately and has been making me hesitant to get out there. Thanks for this thought provoking exercise!
Taking photos that you can look at and go Wow! It’s funny, I never get that wow when I take the photo. Only a month or so later… where I think, “that’s a beautiful photo”. Love the meditative isolation also.
Every stressful part of life goes away and I am connected to the whole area I am in. That includes nature, other people I am with that enjoy nature. I may post 1, 10, or none. I love the total experience of getting away from my house and work.
I enjoy my time outdoors, maybe seeing something beautiful, new or familiar. The photography adds a technical challenge which i also enjoy, but looking back through my images brings back the memories of those times.
In order… 6, 1, 2, 4. 3 and 5 exist for me but very small. Four has become more and more important because as I’ve gotten fairly good, I often think “There’s no reason I can’t produce images that rival published stuff.” It’s a fun challenge to myself; I like doing things all the way if I’m going to do them at all. But I guess only I will ever be the judge because I don’t care about entering contests or posting to every social media group known to man, just for a little recognition. I will admit though, I will occasionally post a couple very different images to a group or two just out of curiosity to see what really peeks interests. I think you’ve talked about this a fair amount. And as I believe you said, the stuff that we’re most proud of as photographers/artists is usually what flops, lol. All that said, FUN continues to be my number one. I can sit on the shore by myself and shoot seagulls all day and have an absolute blast (of course I’d be trying to make the best seagull image you’ve ever seen! LOL) Another good video, Scott!
I’m very new to photography period so certainly curiosity and learning is there; connecting to nature probably is number one. The image is close behind as I want an image that really is beautiful….but for me, not someone else. Interesting video!
Thanks Scott. All of the reasons in this video apply to me. I had been doing landscape photography for years and then one day my husband asked me to grab my camera and go on a butterfly hunt with him and I was hooked. The quality of the image was not as paramount as the experience, but improved quality came rapidly over time. At that point, capturing the perfect image took over. However, being in the wild looking for the animal was also very important. Otherwise, I could have easily achieve a great image at a zoo or paid hide. Others have commented in this thread that the experience is akin to hunting, but for me it is more like fishing-i.e. fishing for the perfect wildlife photo. Fishing also has many of the same elements that you mention, as well as random reward - which is one of the reasons gambling can be so addictive. So I would add reward, akin to addiction, to your list.
Really interesting video and thoughts. I have recently been considering upgrading my kit (currently using 5 year old m43 kit). This led me into quite a deep introspective on why I take wildlife photos (without understanding this, it is really difficult to know what is important with new kit). Whilst point 2 is important to me, I could equally achieve this with landscape photography - I do some of this, but don't find it as compelling. I gravitate towards point 1, but could equally achieve this without the photography element. Whilst we all want to achieve good quality images, there is definitely something I find more compelling in the process of photography (end to end, including editing) that is more important than the end result. I think it is similar to many people who do craft/artistic work. There is something very meditative in being engaged in a reasonably complex task. If I couple that task with being outdoors and connecting to nature, I get the perfect combination.
My main motivator is healthful benefits of physical activity. That it takes place in a natural setting is even more beneficial, both physically and mentally. (Forest Bathing, Qing Li). If I didnt have photography gear, I'd still be out there. I shoot while I hike trails, and see beautiful things in nature I love to share with others - my second motivator. I'm more about sharing the experience than creating exceptional images.
I started my photography journey at the ripe age of 9. Now 60 years later I can say that there are many factors that influence my photography. Whether it's the outdoor adventures, the technical side, the connection with nature, or the satisfaction of having captured an amazing image, all of those things feed my desire to keep at it. I've done underwater photography, baby photography, commercial photography, nature photography, landscape photography and macro photography as my main categories, but as you can see that's a very wide spectrum of interests. One might say that I'm a wee bit eclectic. I rarely share my photos with others, either online or in person, so I don't think there is an ego component. Maybe just a little self pride in being technically capable.
It is a combination of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Since I was a little kid I love searching for animals. It is meditative as well for me, my mind id never quiet unless I am out there. The learning/curiosity part refers to learning about wildlife as well as about photography. It just gives me joy to be out there and if that results in a great image even better. I do 99.9 percent of my photography alone and I prefer it that way. But the community sense on Instagram is great.
Well, here are my reasons: 1. I simply enjoy being out in the country. Whether for wildlife or landscape, it is just good to get out in creation. 2. I find wildlife to be an exciting photographic challenge and I learn more about the critters around us. 3. But, most of all, I want to give glory to the Creator for the beauty and creative variety of His creation and share it with others.
Great question. I would say, for me, it is being out in nature alone with the animals and the thrill of the hunt to find my "prey". Then, capturing the best images I can of that encounter. I don't share my images on social media, so I guess that is not a big motivator for me. If I am out with a small group of friends, we do share our photos from that shoot and it is fun to see the various shots that each of us was able to capture. Even if I have spent hours out in the woods, on a beautiful morning and come home without pushing the shutter button, I will have enjoyed my outing.
I think, for me, it’s really close between connection to nature and the photograph. I do resonate with all of these reasons though and maybe the reason changes depending in on the season of life I’m in.
Good video. Although I mostly shoot wildlife, I also like other subject matter. For me, I think it is the journey / adventure, from finding a fascinating environment, to taking the shot, to processing the image, to sharing the final product.
For me wildlife photography is fun because of exploration and “thrill of the hunt”. I wouldn’t consider myself a birder or a hunter but the thrill of finding wildlife (in the wild) is what makes it worth it. Finding new areas and new species to “hunt” (elk is currently high on my list) and wouldn’t you know it PA has an entire county named for them.
All of the above - I've said it before, I'm a live long Outdoorsman/Hunter and Wildlife Photography is an extension of that, it's hunting with a different weapon it extends my season now to year-round activities, my poor wife.
Great video Scott. For me the number 1 is undoubtedly the most important. Just to be out in nature, for me is just wonderful. Even before i started with wildlife photo, i was out in the nature all the time. If I lost that feeling, i don't think I could continue doing this. I many times go out in the forest here where i live in south Brazil, that is the Atlantic forest, and just sit there listening to the wildlife around me. But if it shows up something interresting, of course i photograping it. But if nothing happend, i am totally ok with that too. The feeling of having the wildlife around you, is the best thing existing. But if i get a good shot of something, it's very nice to share it with the "world" too. Wishing you a great weekend Cheers, Bjoern
My primary motivation to take wildlife images is for my enjoyment so fun. Second would be learning/curiosity. To me the image is the result of the effort and not the motivation. If I don’t end up with an image I can share I’m happy for having had fun and learning.
It is a bit fluid for me, but 40% connection with nature. I like to ID things and collect species accounts. 40% final image. I like that pretty photo :), 10% social aspects - mostly online. Occasionally, I like to go on group trips with the local photography club, but I could live without that. I dislike talking about gear and would rather talk about the subjects and share our trip/photos later to learn how different people see different opportunities. I like to post and I like it when people find enjoyment from my photos or learn something new. 10% fun. In the last year, I have felt obligated to go out and photograph something to post online. It has created location anxiety, and I am trying to move away from the feeling that I need to post something. I think my photos were better before I started worrying about having enough images to post.
It’s a combination of 1,2,3,4,6. Though isolation is the main reason. As I’ve grown older isolation and the moments of blissful silence have become a need for my well being.
Here is the percentage breakdown of what motivates me to take photographs. I think the things below are what make the hobby fun for me, so number 6 is comprised in all of them. I also included enough comments to make sure nobody will read them. haha 50% The Photograph: I set goals each year about what I want to improve and that keeps me focused on what is most important to me. I always say I would rather take a great photo of an average subject than an average photo of a great subject. I have several average (and many below average) photos of owls that nobody will ever see, but I have many great (by my standards) photos of sparrows, blackbirds and other common birds that I really love. 30% Getting Outdoors: I love being outside, breathing the fresh air and just seeing nature. I still hate when I go out and get no keeper shots, but I always feel a little better that I was just able to get outside. 15% The Thrill of the Hunt: I love going out sometimes and blazing my own trail. A lot of my friends in the hobby have mentioned how they rarely see me at the site of a rare bird sighting in the area. That’s because I don’t like being around a dozen or more photographers chasing the birds someone else found. I’m not judging anyone who does that because I know many people get great joy from seeing rare birds. It’s just not a big priority for me. Don’t get me wrong, I sometimes go to the locations that guarantee some photo opportunities, but there are also times that I like to go where there are no other photographers and it’s up to me to find the shots. It’s more difficult but more rewarding as well. 5% The Social Aspect: This used to be a much bigger priority and it was burning me out. I felt like I had to post a daily photo on Flickr that also met my expectations of a great photo. It started to make my hobby feel like work. I took a long break in 2022 and reassessed things when I finally got the urge to get back out there. Now I post a few photos a week on Flickr and don’t worry if I post even fewer photos some weeks. I get more motivation now from seeing the work of others on social media than from seeing how others respond to my work. It made the hobby fun for me again.
To me, as a photographer of social traffic, animals and nature are something you're just bound to naturally hit upon one day. I you do, you want to get experienced to some worthy degree at it, just like all stages of photography you passed demanded something of you before returning something.
I just to do it and never spent much time thinking the WHY. Hence I suspect all the six would play in my WHY. I do know I enjoy the act of creating/capturing an image of whatever that catches my eye, hopefully, well enough for me to print. While nature is at top of my list I do like numerous other genre. I have considered myself as a photographer for the 45 years and since I retired from being a university educator (accounting § management) that is all I do. Living the Dream in my final years with no expectations of being recognized as great.
I think for me it's the image, ie, can I capture what I felt when I took the photo? Sometimes, I like to see how much I can manipulate an image in post-processing while retaining its essence.
6 Fun _ I don't sell my bird photos so the act of bird photography needs to be enjoyable._35% 3 Learning _Not learning about photography but learning about my subjects._20% 1 Connection to nature _For me bird photography has been a fantastic gateway into the natural world_20% 2 Isolation _It is Nice to have solitude for a bit, but it is also nice to talk to others you might meet._10% 5 Social _Definitely meeting and talking with other people. Definitely not social media._10% 4 Final Photo _Was important when I was starting out. Now it is the least important._5%
Number one I will put up high. I couldn't do % and if that list was taken out yes as I have to have my camera in hand & I don't care if anyone see any of my images it is my addiction. Showers are the best places for thoughts.
My answer to your question is I don't know, over the last eighteen months my motivation has died. I feel nothing when I look at what is technically a great image on social media or when I try to get out to a local nature reserve. I'm sure a lot of this is down to my mental health issues but I'm unsure how to find that joy and motivation again.
#1 & #2 make up 90% up it for me. #5 is last and I’m guessing a lot of people have that much higher as they are doing it for the likes. Which is why people are falling of cliff faces and trying to pet the furry cows in Yellowstone.
What about those who do it for ego (to be known as THE "photographer") or even they do it because it's their chosen line of work/ profession? In other words they do it for the money (or at least the chase for the idea they can monetize their work) Can or will anyone admit that without this reason they might no longer be a photographer? What weight would those working in this field give to this reason to shoot photographs?
Here’s a reason that might not be popular but I feel like it applies to me. I grew up in a family of hunters. At a young age I was in the woods hunting deer, but quickly realized I didn’t like hunting, I just hated killing an animal, but also I had this primal desire to be in the woods and tracking animals. It was odd to want to track down wildlife but not like to hunt. I feel like wildlife photography fulfills that primal urge to “hunt” but without having to kill anything. My photograph is the “kill shot”. It’s what keeps me out there but also preserving those memories in photos.
I had the same experience growing up hunting from a young age. The older I got the less I liked the idea of killing animals. However, I always loved being in the woods and experiencing nature. I still really enjoy sitting out in wilderness for hours on end. Its just that now I do it with a camera.
I was born into a professional pest control hunting family in New Zealand.
At the age of 14 my father pulled me out of school and into the wilderness of the mountains to start my hunting career. That was in 1973. Hunting was not something I did, it was and still is, who I am. That's very hard to understand unless you have been completely enveloped by something. Around 2007 I started to get interested in photography and in 2014 I put down my rifle and I have not popped a primer since then I have done my bit to protect our New Zealand wilderness and the birds that live there from the evasive deer, tahr and chamois which were introduced to New Zealand by well meaning but ignorant immigrants in the late 1800s. I no longer wanted to kill anything any more.
Everything I have learned from my career eradicating deer I have been able to apply to my wildlife photography.
Now I live in Northern Ireland and totally surrounded by people.To be alone in nature meant no other human beings for 20 miles for months at a time. So I can't say its isolation in nature that attracts me to photography.
I guess for me it was the challenge. Basically with a rifle if you can see the animal you can shoot it. This is not the case with a camera lol. I get the same thrill from photography as I did with hunting but I don't have to kill anything.
Thank you for sharing your story.
“Catch and Release” hunting.
I highly suggest you to read up the works of Jim Corbett, He had this exact philosophy you just described here...
I also grew up hunting in the swamps of Northern Michigan but decided long ago that I would prefer to photograph an animal than harvest it. I am also a pragmatist. I don't like trophy hunters but people that hunt and eat what they kill is fine with me. I now live in coastal North Carolina and many of the places that I have to interact with wildlife is because of game lands and hunting preserves that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the support of hunters. If they want to go in and hunt these lands for a couple months a year but I have access year around, it is a fair arrangement for me. I have also met many hunters who appreciate wildlife beyond what they hunt and most are very friendly and share the love of the outdoors.
My motivation is the end result- the photograph / image. Everything else is the source and channel to create a content that creates a thought, a smile or a moment of appreciation.
Connection to nature, and improving my photography skills.
What a great topic.
To start off, I was mostly intrigued and curious. I have always loved wildlife since I was a little kid watching Animal documentaries, in the 80s and 90s, and visiting the San Diego zoo SeaWorld in the wild animal park every other weekend. For the last five years or so, I would hate to admit it has been driven by trying to create content, which I was trying to do to generate some sort of income. I stopped posting for about six months. not until then did I realize how much the content was the driving force. I would say right now the photograph or end product is probably the driving force. I want to get better. There will always be a love for wildlife and nature that’s not the foundation of it all. He took away the photograph and everything else, I’d still want to go for drives to see the animals.
This video really made me think. nice one Scott .
My reasons: To be out in nature, challenging myself to take better photos, creating art, camaraderie with other wildlife photographers.
This is a great opportunity to reflect. I definitely weigh connection to nature and “the photograph” a lot. I have already been hiking to connect with nature but photography adds a challenge for me to capture the majesty of my experiences and keep it as a (shareable) memory.
10:39 10:39 All of the factors you mention are factors, but there is another important one for me. I have been involved in conservation issues for over 60 years starting with using photographs as a way to persuade people to support statutory protection for wilderness areas. While I still do landscape photography, I have been focusing on bird photography in recent years and I do this in connection with one of the great citizen science projects in the world, eBird. Rather than posting photos to Instagram, I post bird photos with the eBird checklists that I submit. The data that thousands of birders around the world post to eBird is used by wildlife scientists to help monitor bird populations and try to reverse the loss of 30% of wild birds over the past 50 years. That is what gets me out day after day.
I like the challenge of capturing a sharp action bird photo, with nice light and background. I also enjoy using my camera equipment, then processing the final image. Then entering my favourite photos in competitions and sometimes sharing interesting photos on social media
I think for me, it's really the connection to nature and fun that top the list.
Thinking about the social aspect, I don't feel that it's really a motivation for me, but more of an after affect. I don't go out to shoot just to share on social media (or otherwise), but I definitely enjoy sharing when I've gotten something that I like. I find that I post on social media a lot less if I don't have anything new to share, but it's not my primary driver. I don't go out and say, "I need something for Instagram." Instead I go out and when I come back I'll say, "I should post that."
For me it is the search for new and different species as well as trying to get that once in a lifetime shot that we all crave. I do enjoy being out in nature alone with my thoughts though.
It is very similar to how I shoot my sons' hockey games. The majority of the shots are extremely similar but every once in a while there is that one that just blows you away.
I'd say my primary reason for continuing is for the self-esteem boost. Maybe that can be filed away under ego, but I've struggled all my life with not feeling valued or competent. When I first started, I loved just being out in nature, as I grew up with mainly indoor hobbies in a city without much biodiversity in the immediate area. But now that I'm taking some halfway decent photos, I'm hooked on finally having a sort of niche that's recognized by people I know (real life friends, family, online).
I totally get it. You've grown a ton the last couple years.
For me it's creativity. We are creating images that have never before existed, and will never be exactly duplicated. I am also creating a huge bank of images which I will be able to look back on with fond memories when I am older.
Two primary reasons: share the awe and get to see again experiences that happened so momentarily
I systematically got into birding about 20 years ago and bought a camera instead of binoculars because I could share a picture to help with identification. My peers have inspired me to be a better photographer and I am honored to have a few pics published. But when I give "bird talks" the way that I describe what I do to the average lay person is, "I hunt birds (wildlife) with a camera. My pictures are my trophy room."
1 and 2 for me. Living in DC it's rare to find a quiet slice of nature (luckily I have found a few spaces) so when I can connect with nature uninterrupted by other humans I find that feeling feeds directly into the 2nd item on your list. Whenever I get a chance alone in nature it reminds me that my daily life activities like work, commuting, grocery shopping, and so on are just the human experiences. When I spend time in nature (1&2) it grounds me and reminds me that those human activities i listed above are just constraints we put on ourselves and that we should be trying to reconnect with nature after sitting in offices all day. Great video and looking forward to what others have to say!
I gotta say, the final image is probably tops for me, followed by isolation and fun. Im obsessed with just going out and getting a great image, but to me that's also part of the fun. So, that's easily the driving force for me.
The other reasons all are pretty close in level of importance though and none of them lag far behind.
I have lived or been to Big cities, Rural and Nature and being fully honest I always felt/feel most "Alive" when I am in nature(doesn't have to be a remote national park strictly even backyard marshes/groves do for me) so yeah that's my primary motive for Wildlife Photography-It makes me feel Alive💚
Very cool video! Nice change from all the "how to" and "product" videos on RUclips. As for me, I've been shooting for over 50 years doing all types of photography. It's always been about the image, stopping a period of time forever. Even if it's 1/2000 of a second, I captured that moment and it will never change. For decades I shot for others, trying to please their eye. I'm older and really don't care if someone likes my images or not. Now I shoot for myself and found that my work has gotten much better. I still enjoy sharing my images online and appreciate feedback from others. I like the social interaction you mentioned, I never thought about how much I enjoy meeting up with other photographers talking our trade or the subjects we shoot. Thank you for making us stop, take a breath and reflect on our passion. Good Job!
Great comment. Thanks for stopping by to watch.
I was a pro photographer in the 80’s, then things went digital. I like (need) simple things that I can understand, digital introduced complexity, so I gave it up. I was pulled back into it by something I saw while out on an early morning bike ride. My world is so different from others around me that I need to find a way to share some of it.
OMG, I am not alone having a mind that feels like being in a class with squirrels outside taking away my attention toward something else! Even in a discussion with someone, my mind is always disturbed… For me, the photograph/image is the number one motivation! Being by myself and the connection with nature is close by! Even if the photograph is number one, I do it mainly for me since I don’t publish much! The challenge of taking a great shot is definitely also a big component of going out for me! Another great video!. 👍
Much like a few others indicated, I come from a hunting background, so #1 would be my main motivator for evolving into a photographer. For me, it's nice to get some good images, especially ones that others (who can't get out) appreciate. Which takes us to Social Media. It allows us to share with others that don't have the means to be out there. Now back to #1, here's a question. How often has anyone come home, and without looking at your images, gone.........damn, what a day !!! That interaction with the moose for 1 1/2 hours, 45 minutes with that black bear, or 2 hours in the middle of an elk herd....at rut time, and none of them knew or didn't care you were there ! That for me, is what it's all about, and why I spent time in the wilderness with a camera. AND......I can't lie, getting that elusive award winning photo. Wouldn't that be great !!!!
My motivation is a tie between connection to nature and being out in forest and field all by myself. Each one of your other reasons adds to the pleasure of photography, but come nowhere close to my primary reasons.
I can’t separate connection to nature, isolation/being present, learning/curiosity, making an image, and fun. I depend on a connection with nature and being present (letting go of my ego) to make the images I want. The causal arrow goes the other way as well: holding my camera inspires me to sit still, be present, and become aware of the details of a place (including the light) which allow me to capture the images I want. Learning and curiosity are also part of the bundle because I typically watch my subjects for a while to learn their behavioral patterns before I shoot (those two also inspire me to search for new locations to shoot). The momentary joy I feel when these things come together make me go back out.
I enjoy the social aspect of photography but it's a close second. I’ve shot for decades without sharing the experience or my images with anyone else.
Learning you can be creative and others appreciate the work you do. Being out there everyday in the forest or lakes is so therapeutic to forget about the world and its problems. All six in various degrees makes it an exciting hobby.
I shoot wildlife because of the beauty they represent. The animals are the best of nature and my motivation is to capture the best I can to share with those interested in wildlife photography! It's fun. It brings me great joy. It's exciting especially when the animal, large or small, is near and fills the frame and I get the shots. Coming away with keepers is my mojo for wildlife photography. I've only been shooting for 5 or so years, and I will probably change as I get more experience with the art, but for now, this is the why for me!
I can say all 6, but #1 is connecting to nature. Nature is in my dna, so much I got a degree in fisheries & wildlife management. I need to be in nature and photography is how I share my love of nature.
I have come to this video a little late, so I suspect no one will read this and respond, but it's a good video and a good opportunity to reflect.
Personally, for me connecting with nature and mental health is the same. I started wildlife photography because I was spending a lot of time in nature to connect with nature for mental health. Then one day I started bringing a camera. The rest is history.
I have only been doing this for three years, so learning about the process of photography is still a thing for me. However, more so, it is learning about the animals I encounter, seeing their behaviour, understand the patterns and as well use that to get better photographs.
Ego? Yes, absolutely. When posting on social media it is nice and validating to get a positive response. On the social side I have found the wildlife photography community to be friendly, welcoming and happy to share experiences and knowledge. As a former university academic I also enjoy sharing my knowledge with the general public and will always answer questions from passerbys about what I am (trying) to photograph.
On the final product, I do worry if that becomes the main motivator. Obviously getting a great shot is a big motivation, but I do worry that for some getting the ‘best’ shot can lead to unethical practices that harm the wildlife we are photographing. Like wildlife paparazzi.
Fun. If you are not having fun, stop!
I read every comment! Smaller channels can do that
I had to stop watching before I got too far into the video to figure out my motivation for photography. First it’s meditative, it helps me shut my thoughts off and just focus on the subject. My mind is constantly going. I enjoy the isolation of photography. I find peace just being alone with the subjects, and lastly, the ability to be creative. Love your ideas and look forward to seeing what motivates you Scott. Cheers
like minds
1. I haven’t taken my best image yet! I have photos I’m proud of but always strive to improve even after 15yrs
2. Time out with best friends and alone time when no one can join me.
3. It’s an addiction / my drug
4. Something new for my walls. Why buy art create it yourself.
5.relief of stress.
It depends on the "trip." Today I went with a friend to look for Paradise Kingfishers. So, a bit social, link with nature, and scout the locale.
But when I go out on a specific mission, paying attention to time of day, location, tides, target bird. It's all about capturing the best image possible. For me that is why I spent the $$ on the gear, got up early to be there predawn, set my ass in the mud, edited the final images. Being out in nature is a great 2nd benefit!
I also shot for a local birding group, and post to their FB site. "record the journey" for them so they can add it to the weekly newsletter. It's social and almost journalistic.
I also love your Socratic approach to wildlife photography.
It’s a tie between the connection to nature & isolation for me. I do not enjoy photographing amongst large crowds of people. I very much enjoy being alone and soaking in all the natural world has to offer.
I will say though, and I didn’t know this until recently when my d850 + 500mm prime broke and now I’m shooting with an older camera not meant for wildlife and a 200 mm only. The final image is a big factor. I love creating something pretty and challenging myself. Photography has not been quite as enjoyable without my d850. I love my 200mm but it’s not the same with my current camera and the final image isn’t nearly as nice.
5 - 50%
1 and 2 - 25% each
Which I think (for me) prioritizing 5 so high is what’s giving me a lot of self doubt lately and has been making me hesitant to get out there. Thanks for this thought provoking exercise!
Taking photos that you can look at and go Wow!
It’s funny, I never get that wow when I take the photo. Only a month or so later… where I think, “that’s a beautiful photo”.
Love the meditative isolation also.
Every stressful part of life goes away and I am connected to the whole area I am in. That includes nature, other people I am with that enjoy nature. I may post 1, 10, or none. I love the total experience of getting away from my house and work.
Love that!
I enjoy my time outdoors, maybe seeing something beautiful, new or familiar. The photography adds a technical challenge which i also enjoy, but looking back through my images brings back the memories of those times.
In order… 6, 1, 2, 4.
3 and 5 exist for me but very small. Four has become more and more important because as I’ve gotten fairly good, I often think “There’s no reason I can’t produce images that rival published stuff.” It’s a fun challenge to myself; I like doing things all the way if I’m going to do them at all. But I guess only I will ever be the judge because I don’t care about entering contests or posting to every social media group known to man, just for a little recognition. I will admit though, I will occasionally post a couple very different images to a group or two just out of curiosity to see what really peeks interests. I think you’ve talked about this a fair amount. And as I believe you said, the stuff that we’re most proud of as photographers/artists is usually what flops, lol.
All that said, FUN continues to be my number one. I can sit on the shore by myself and shoot seagulls all day and have an absolute blast (of course I’d be trying to make the best seagull image you’ve ever seen! LOL)
Another good video, Scott!
I’m very new to photography period so certainly curiosity and learning is there; connecting to nature probably is number one. The image is close behind as I want an image that really is beautiful….but for me, not someone else. Interesting video!
Thanks Scott. All of the reasons in this video apply to me. I had been doing landscape photography for years and then one day my husband asked me to grab my camera and go on a butterfly hunt with him and I was hooked. The quality of the image was not as paramount as the experience, but improved quality came rapidly over time. At that point, capturing the perfect image took over. However, being in the wild looking for the animal was also very important. Otherwise, I could have easily achieve a great image at a zoo or paid hide. Others have commented in this thread that the experience is akin to hunting, but for me it is more like fishing-i.e. fishing for the perfect wildlife photo. Fishing also has many of the same elements that you mention, as well as random reward - which is one of the reasons gambling can be so addictive. So I would add reward, akin to addiction, to your list.
Really interesting video and thoughts. I have recently been considering upgrading my kit (currently using 5 year old m43 kit). This led me into quite a deep introspective on why I take wildlife photos (without understanding this, it is really difficult to know what is important with new kit). Whilst point 2 is important to me, I could equally achieve this with landscape photography - I do some of this, but don't find it as compelling. I gravitate towards point 1, but could equally achieve this without the photography element. Whilst we all want to achieve good quality images, there is definitely something I find more compelling in the process of photography (end to end, including editing) that is more important than the end result. I think it is similar to many people who do craft/artistic work. There is something very meditative in being engaged in a reasonably complex task. If I couple that task with being outdoors and connecting to nature, I get the perfect combination.
Being present 50%, Connection to nature 50%
1,4 & 6 equal weight - It is the feeling I get when I look at my nature pictures (not always perfect) that keeps me looking for another image.
My main motivator is healthful benefits of physical activity. That it takes place in a natural setting is even more beneficial, both physically and mentally. (Forest Bathing, Qing Li). If I didnt have photography gear, I'd still be out there. I shoot while I hike trails, and see beautiful things in nature I love to share with others - my second motivator. I'm more about sharing the experience than creating exceptional images.
I started my photography journey at the ripe age of 9. Now 60 years later I can say that there are many factors that influence my photography. Whether it's the outdoor adventures, the technical side, the connection with nature, or the satisfaction of having captured an amazing image, all of those things feed my desire to keep at it. I've done underwater photography, baby photography, commercial photography, nature photography, landscape photography and macro photography as my main categories, but as you can see that's a very wide spectrum of interests. One might say that I'm a wee bit eclectic. I rarely share my photos with others, either online or in person, so I don't think there is an ego component. Maybe just a little self pride in being technically capable.
It is a combination of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Since I was a little kid I love searching for animals. It is meditative as well for me, my mind id never quiet unless I am out there. The learning/curiosity part refers to learning about wildlife as well as about photography. It just gives me joy to be out there and if that results in a great image even better. I do 99.9 percent of my photography alone and I prefer it that way. But the community sense on Instagram is great.
Well, here are my reasons:
1. I simply enjoy being out in the country. Whether for wildlife or landscape, it is just good to get out in creation.
2. I find wildlife to be an exciting photographic challenge and I learn more about the critters around us.
3. But, most of all, I want to give glory to the Creator for the beauty and creative variety of His creation and share it with others.
Great question. I would say, for me, it is being out in nature alone with the animals and the thrill of the hunt to find my "prey". Then, capturing the best images I can of that encounter. I don't share my images on social media, so I guess that is not a big motivator for me. If I am out with a small group of friends, we do share our photos from that shoot and it is fun to see the various shots that each of us was able to capture. Even if I have spent hours out in the woods, on a beautiful morning and come home without pushing the shutter button, I will have enjoyed my outing.
I think, for me, it’s really close between connection to nature and the photograph. I do resonate with all of these reasons though and maybe the reason changes depending in on the season of life I’m in.
Nature experience is primary and photography is secondary. I let nature surprise me!
Good video. Although I mostly shoot wildlife, I also like other subject matter. For me, I think it is the journey / adventure, from finding a fascinating environment, to taking the shot, to processing the image, to sharing the final product.
Great upload, Scott!!
Bringing an idea or concept to life
Intersting
I like the quiet time, practice with the gear to improve, and learn bird behavior to make better images.
Hi Scott
My motivations
Nature 30%
Isolation 30%
Image quality 40%
Bob
For me wildlife photography is fun because of exploration and “thrill of the hunt”.
I wouldn’t consider myself a birder or a hunter but the thrill of finding wildlife (in the wild) is what makes it worth it. Finding new areas and new species to “hunt” (elk is currently high on my list) and wouldn’t you know it PA has an entire county named for them.
I do know it !! Lol
All of the above - I've said it before, I'm a live long Outdoorsman/Hunter and Wildlife Photography is an extension of that, it's hunting with a different weapon it extends my season now to year-round activities, my poor wife.
Great video Scott. For me the number 1 is undoubtedly the most important. Just to be out in nature, for me is just wonderful. Even before i started with wildlife photo, i was out in the nature all the time. If I lost that feeling, i don't think I could continue doing this. I many times go out in the forest here where i live in south Brazil, that is the Atlantic forest, and just sit there listening to the wildlife around me. But if it shows up something interresting, of course i photograping it. But if nothing happend, i am totally ok with that too. The feeling of having the wildlife around you, is the best thing existing. But if i get a good shot of something, it's very nice to share it with the "world" too.
Wishing you a great weekend
Cheers, Bjoern
i can almost feel the forest
My primary motivation to take wildlife images is for my enjoyment so fun. Second would be learning/curiosity. To me the image is the result of the effort and not the motivation. If I don’t end up with an image I can share I’m happy for having had fun and learning.
It is a bit fluid for me, but 40% connection with nature. I like to ID things and collect species accounts. 40% final image. I like that pretty photo :), 10% social aspects - mostly online. Occasionally, I like to go on group trips with the local photography club, but I could live without that. I dislike talking about gear and would rather talk about the subjects and share our trip/photos later to learn how different people see different opportunities. I like to post and I like it when people find enjoyment from my photos or learn something new. 10% fun. In the last year, I have felt obligated to go out and photograph something to post online. It has created location anxiety, and I am trying to move away from the feeling that I need to post something. I think my photos were better before I started worrying about having enough images to post.
It’s a combination of 1,2,3,4,6. Though isolation is the main reason. As I’ve grown older isolation and the moments of blissful silence have become a need for my well being.
Here is the percentage breakdown of what motivates me to take photographs. I think the things below are what make the hobby fun for me, so number 6 is comprised in all of them. I also included enough comments to make sure nobody will read them. haha
50% The Photograph: I set goals each year about what I want to improve and that keeps me focused on what is most important to me. I always say I would rather take a great photo of an average subject than an average photo of a great subject. I have several average (and many below average) photos of owls that nobody will ever see, but I have many great (by my standards) photos of sparrows, blackbirds and other common birds that I really love.
30% Getting Outdoors: I love being outside, breathing the fresh air and just seeing nature. I still hate when I go out and get no keeper shots, but I always feel a little better that I was just able to get outside.
15% The Thrill of the Hunt: I love going out sometimes and blazing my own trail. A lot of my friends in the hobby have mentioned how they rarely see me at the site of a rare bird sighting in the area. That’s because I don’t like being around a dozen or more photographers chasing the birds someone else found. I’m not judging anyone who does that because I know many people get great joy from seeing rare birds. It’s just not a big priority for me. Don’t get me wrong, I sometimes go to the locations that guarantee some photo opportunities, but there are also times that I like to go where there are no other photographers and it’s up to me to find the shots. It’s more difficult but more rewarding as well.
5% The Social Aspect: This used to be a much bigger priority and it was burning me out. I felt like I had to post a daily photo on Flickr that also met my expectations of a great photo. It started to make my hobby feel like work. I took a long break in 2022 and reassessed things when I finally got the urge to get back out there. Now I post a few photos a week on Flickr and don’t worry if I post even fewer photos some weeks. I get more motivation now from seeing the work of others on social media than from seeing how others respond to my work. It made the hobby fun for me again.
Good perspective.
It’s 2 and 4 but for me, but also the primitive instinct of hunting, only instead of killing the animal I capture a photo of it
To me, as a photographer of social traffic, animals and nature are something you're just bound to naturally hit upon one day. I you do, you want to get experienced to some worthy degree at it, just like all stages of photography you passed demanded something of you before returning something.
Connection with nature
I just to do it and never spent much time thinking the WHY. Hence I suspect all the six would play in my WHY. I do know I enjoy the act of creating/capturing an image of whatever that catches my eye, hopefully, well enough for me to print. While nature is at top of my list I do like numerous other genre. I have considered myself as a photographer for the 45 years and since I retired from being a university educator (accounting § management) that is all I do. Living the Dream in my final years with no expectations of being recognized as great.
All of the above...plus motivation to get me off my fat backside and out to get some exercise
I think for me it's the image, ie, can I capture what I felt when I took the photo? Sometimes, I like to see how much I can manipulate an image in post-processing while retaining its essence.
6 Fun _ I don't sell my bird photos so the act of bird photography needs to be enjoyable._35%
3 Learning _Not learning about photography but learning about my subjects._20%
1 Connection to nature _For me bird photography has been a fantastic gateway into the natural world_20%
2 Isolation _It is Nice to have solitude for a bit, but it is also nice to talk to others you might meet._10%
5 Social _Definitely meeting and talking with other people. Definitely not social media._10%
4 Final Photo _Was important when I was starting out. Now it is the least important._5%
Would love to see you get back to do episodes with Ray Hennessey, if that's possible!!.
I'm guessing that's a no. Lol
Number one I will put up high.
I couldn't do % and if that list was taken out yes as I have to have my camera in hand & I don't care if anyone see any of my images it is my addiction.
Showers are the best places for thoughts.
So many shower random ideas lol
@@WildlifeInspired best thoughts happen in the 🚿😊
the photograph and the subject
All but the social aspect , !!.would still go if one or more is missing !!...
My answer to your question is I don't know, over the last eighteen months my motivation has died. I feel nothing when I look at what is technically a great image on social media or when I try to get out to a local nature reserve.
I'm sure a lot of this is down to my mental health issues but I'm unsure how to find that joy and motivation again.
I love animals
2 & 1 are more or less 80%, the photograph makes up the last 20 for me :)
Connection to the One who created nature - which also contains #2.
Quick answer. 😀 4, 2, 1 and 3 in that rating.
#1 & #2 make up 90% up it for me. #5 is last and I’m guessing a lot of people have that much higher as they are doing it for the likes. Which is why people are falling of cliff faces and trying to pet the furry cows in Yellowstone.
What about those who do it for ego (to be known as THE "photographer") or even they do it because it's their chosen line of work/ profession? In other words they do it for the money (or at least the chase for the idea they can monetize their work) Can or will anyone admit that without this reason they might no longer be a photographer? What weight would those working in this field give to this reason to shoot photographs?
Good point. Was thinking more of the hobbyist casual money earner. Not the professional that "has" to. I wonder how many do it because they have to.
I love being connected to Gods creation
Amen
1, 2, 3, 4 are 20% each
5 and 6 are 10% each
2 first and then all others equally 2nd
4 3 2 and last 1
1. 50%
2. 20%
3. 10%
6. 20%
Mental health 😂
Don't get moldy at home
Nice thoughts, thank you. 1 6 4 2 3 is importance to me, number 5 is not important at all for me :)